A sixth contract extension with Wellpath LLC, which provides health care for jail detainees, Correctional Center inmates and juveniles in detention, failed to gain approval Wednesday, May 13, from a Shelby County Commission committee.

Eight commissioners abstained in a vote on the extension for adults, and the resolution for juvenile health care was sent to the Monday, May 18, full commission without a recommendation. 

The most recent contract with Wellpath (formerly Correct Care Solutions) expired June 30, 2018. The three-month extension now being considered – to oversee the care of adults at the county jail, Jail East, the Correctional Center and juveniles held in detention – tops out at $5.1 million.

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Alisa Haushalter, Health Department director, apologized to the commission’s hospitals and health committee for the latest extension request and stated it was because of failures within her department.

The most recent extension was in January.

Haushalter also told commissioners Wellpath was the top- scoring company, and another contract that retains the company will be presented at a later date for their approval.

Although Wellpath was not specifically mentioned, the commission’s general government committee approved by a 13-0 vote a resolution that amends their permanent rules limiting extensions to two per contract.

Commissioner Eddie Jones noted the added expenses to extend contracts has contributed to overspending.

The county has contracted with Wellpath (CCS) since 2013, spending a total of $146.8 million for adult and juvenile health care.

Wellpath and its predecessor, CCS, have been plaintiffs in lawsuits across the country by inmates who have accused the company of providing substandard care.

In Shelby County, Robert “Bob” Brame, a former jail inmate, claims in a lawsuit against the company, its employees, the county, the jail and the sheriff, that Wellpath failed to care adequately for his broken leg. After his left leg became infected, it was amputated below the knee.

Another jail inmate, Erik R. Honeycutt, has filed a lawsuit, claiming Wellpath employees at 201 Poplar gave him the wrong medication for his non-epileptic seizure disorder. Those meds caused him to have debilitating seizures. Honeycutt is asking for $1 million.

Also, nurses Crystal Tucker and Kelly Brumley, who worked for CCS at the Shelby County Correctional Center, say they were wrongfully terminated after they complained about how inmates were treated.

Wellpath, based in Nashville, has been named in lawsuits across the country filed by inmates who believe they received substandard care and employees who say the company cuts corners in order to increase profits.